Saturating machine



Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,253

9 F. A. BROWNE i SATURATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 21, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 1 .FICi I.

WITNESSES I I 'INVENTOR: 994W a W Frazzicflfimwzze,

I 1 4 BY W v W I ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 8, 1929.

. 1,698,253 F. A. BROWNE SATURATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 21, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG: I

. INVENTOR: v fiankflfimwzw, By M ATTORNEYS.

WI TNESSES 9 A affilra/M/b 1,698,253 F. A. BROWNE SATURATIXNG MACHINE Filed Nov. 21, 1925 5 ts-Sheet 3 I16. I 1W6- $2 WITNESSES INVENTOR:

a. Ezmk fl. Browne, BY W Q M 1 Patented Jan. 8, ,1929.

UNITED STATES I 1,698,253 PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK A, BROWNE, QF WAYNE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE BARBER AS- PHALT COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, 'A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

SATURATING MACHINE.

This invention relates to saturating means and more particularly to machines including a saturant tank through which the material to be treated is continuously or intermittentl progressed. Machines of the type reerred to usually embody a series of carrier rolls to support, guide and progress, the material through the saturant; a number of idlers or gate rolls constrained for vertical movement; and draw rolls coordinated with the carrier rolls for advancing the material. In order that the material treated in such machines may be initially threaded therethrough it is essential that the idler or gate rolls be capable of easy elevation above the saturant, and a common method of attaining this end has been to employ vert cally movable roll supporting members operable by rack and pinion mechanism. Such means necessitate, however, approximately a head room for the machine equal to the depth of the tank resulting in an unnecessary excess of building cover; or,-alternatively, the location of the saturant tank in a sub-surface enclosure.

An object of this invention is to provide a saturating machine requiring only a minimum extent of head room and super-structural covering, without interfering with the free operation of such machines, and thereby considerably reducing the cost of initial installations.

Another object of the present improvements is the provision of novel means for automatically accommodating expansion and contraction of the gate roll progressing means incident to encountering extremes of temperature. 7 a

A further object of this invention is to provide a saturating machine embodying novel features of construction and advantages hitherto unknown in the art of impregnating bibulous material with a substance, that is viscous or solid at ordinary temperatures and, hence, requiring heat to maintain it in a permeative condition.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent from the following description, this invention essentially consists of the matters hereinafter set forth, typically illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and tersely defined as to subjectmatter and scope by the sub-joined claims.

In the drawings, like or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals throughout the several views; of which Fig. is a broken side elevation-in the main diagrammzttic-illustrating one typical embodiment of myv invention, more particularly adapted for the saturation of absorbent roofing material with bituminous compound.

Fig. II is an end elevation looking towards the right-hand of the preceding figure.

Fig. III is an enlargedpart sectional front elevation of one of the guide roll elevating and controlling mechanisms.

Fig. IV is an end view of same looking towards the left hand. of Fig. III.

Fig. V is a part sectional detail view of a stationary sprocket bearing, later on fully explained; and,

Fig. VI is a similar view of one of the guide roll traveling bearings.

Referring in general to the drawings, as the maln features ofthe particular embodiment of myinvention illustrated are well known in the art, the same will not be de scribed in detail; nor will the operationthereof be set forth with more particularity than is essential to a full comprehension of this invention.

Proceeding now to a detailed explanation as to one practical adaptation of my present invention more particularly serviceable for the absorbent treatment of fabric, paper or roofing'felt, with bituminous substance such as asphalt, and having reference more particularly to Figs. I and II of the accompanying drawings, the numeral 7 designates,

a rectangular tank or vat of appropriate construction which is fitted in its lower part' with a bank of conduits 8 Fig. II for. the circulation of suitable heating medium, whereby the asphalt is maintained in a fluent condition and at a proper temperature to effect consistent absorption. At the upper longitudinal sides of the tank or vat 7 and preferably mounted upon independent foundation walls or the like 9 Fig. II, are a sequential series of opposed bearings 10, in which carrier rolls 11 are journaled trans.- versely over said tank or vat. This separate supporting of the rolls 11 avoids any tendency to mis-alignment arising therein incident to expansion and contraction of the tank or vat 7. Intermediate the bearings 10, at one side of the machine, and mounted on the aforesaid walls 9*, are other spaced bearin s 12 journaling short shafts 13, having ,id er gears 14splined thereon-meshing with drive gears 15 keyed or otherwise attached on the parallel shaft ends of the carrier rolls 11, so that the entire series of carrier rolls 11 are coordinated for uniform rotation in the same direction, as later on again referred to.

At the feeding-in end of the tank or vat 7 I provide a guide roll 16,-journaled in bearings 17 movable relative to suitable bases 18 mounted on the aforesaid walls 9, through the medium of a worm device 19, in the well known way, so that the guide roll 16 may be positioned and adjusted precisely in parallel to the leading carrier roll 11, as will be well understood by those acquainted with the art.

Supported above the tank or' vat 7, by means of verticals 20, 'isa superstructural bearing frame 21 comprising longitudinal beams 22, rigidly connected together, at intervals, by horizontal cross braces 23, in the manner common in structural iron and steel arts, hence needing no further explanation herein. On this superstructural bearing frame 21 there is mounted a series of spring bearings, comprehensively designated 24, for support and adjustment of the gate rolls 25. In view of the fact that each of the bearings 24, with the exception ofcertain instrumentalities aligned at one side of the machine, is identical, I will now describe one of them specifically, it being understood that such description equally applies to all of the others.

As best illustrated in Figs. III and IV, each spring bearing 24 comprises an upper shaft journal-block 26, and a base 27 profvided along one of its longitudinal sides with a depending flange 28, whereby it is attached through the medium of bolts 29 to the web 30 of one of the longitudinal beams 22 above referred to; and which in the'case under description is conveniently thought not essentially-a standard channel section. The base 27, is formed to provide housings 31 for a pair of springs 32 under compression, said springs being centered relative to the housings through the medium of flanged bushings 33 fitting in counter-- bores in the underside of said base. These springs 32 are fitted at their upper ends with invert cup-plungersor gu'ides 34 having a sliding fit in the housings 31, and concentricdepending portions 35 which, in conjunction with the bushings 33 aforesaid,

nuts 42. Thus it will be readily understood that each journal block 26 is resiliently mounted relative to the frame 21; or, with capacity for vertical movement for a purpose hereinafter set out.

Journaled transversely of the bearing frame 21 in each opposed pair of spring bearings 24 is a gate roll operating shaft 43, said shaft having keyed thereonat each end adjoining the journal blocks 26a pair of sprockets 44 each of which cooperates with an endless chain 45 in turn trained around another stationarily located sprocket 46 near the bottom of, and inside, the saturating tank or vat 7. Each, last mentioned, sprocket 46, as best seen from Fig. V. is freely rotatable on a stub shaft 47 securely locked in an elbow bearing 48 by means of a set screw 49 and prevented from lateral displacement bya bearing plate 50, as will be clearly understood from the view referred to. The elbow bearing 48 is, in turn, attached by set screws 51, or the like, to the lateral flange of an angle clip 52, convenientlythough not essentially-riveted to the inside wall of the vat or tank 7.

Referring again to the gate rolls 25 par-v ticular attention is directed to the novel manner in which I support them by the endless chains 45. As best shown in Fig. VI, the protruding'ends of the gate roll axle 53 are each fitted with an anti-friction bearing 54, conveniently held immovably in place by a clamp 55 and set screw 56. Each bearing 54 is mounted in an appropriate counter-bored housing 57 having opposedlyprojecting apertured lugs 58, by means of which it is interposed in the endless chain 45 through the medium of suitable connecting pins 59, or the like. The counterbored housing 57 is substantially closed-in at the outer side by means of a removable inset plate 60 having a concentric aperture 61 for the injection of lubricant; and on its inner side said housing is fitted with a re tainer plate 62, held in place by countersink screws 63, while a spacer ring 64 is interposed between the same and the aforesaid bearing 54, as clearly understandable from the view just described.

In order that the endless chains 45 and gate rolls 25 be constrained for movement along right lines, to accommodate preliminary threading of the material treated into the machine, I provide vertical guides 65 of channel section, l ngitudinal-ly within which, the gate-roll bearing housings 57 are adapted for progression, as later on explained; while said guides 65 have their upper ends outwardly turned at 66 for the obvious purpose of ensuring free entry of the housings 57.

Since the endless chains 45 subject to chan s of temperature-varying from atmosp eric upwards-in the treat nient'of fella" are liable to contrasting temperatures concurrently, expansion and contraction thereof should be provided for. Furthermore, the

chains must, 1; all times, be maintained under tension to prevent excessive lateral movement of the housing bearings 57 1n the guides 65. Such essent al requirements are automatically ensured by the spring bearings 24- hereinbefore described. However,

the material (felt for example) in passing through the machine exerts a substantial upward pull upon the gate rolls 25 as well as the endless chains 45, hence means must be provided to counteract such tendency. The mechanism whereby I obviate the just referred to tendency is by providing means functional to prevent rotation of the operating shafts 43, except when manipulated to elevate or descend the gate rolls 25. A convenient means for this purpose is best shown in Figs. III and IV; the same being of a type to float with the spring bearings 24; as, if otherwise mounted, it would fail to function effectively. This means comprises a holder member 67 rigidly secured, in any convenient way, to the outer face of the journal block 26'at that side of the machine provided with the shaft operating hand-wheels 68. Each holder member 67 is formed with a pair of spaced lateral offsets 69 affording journals for a screw 70 provided at one end with a hand-wheel 71 whereby it may be rotated. Traversable along the screw 70 is a nut 72, constrained against relative rotation by abutment with the holder aforesaid, and it is formed with a depending part having a lateral pin 73 engaging in the upper forked end of a guide arm 74 free upon the shaft 43. This guide arm 74 has pivote'd at 75, to its outer side, a double-headed pawl 76 cooperative with a ratchet 77 securely keyed on the shaft 43, and said pawl is fittedwith a lift pin 78 in the shank thereof. Thus it will be readily understood, by those acquainted with mechanical locking means, that by turning the hand wheel 71 the pawl 7 6 may be promptly jammed into binding engagement between any two adjacent teeth of the ratchet 77, whereby rotation of the shaft 43 is prevented, until said ratchet is released and lifted clear thereof. Conventional drag or pinch rolls 7', fitted with a suitable brake b, are provided at the leading-in end of the superstructure 21, and their purpose will be obvious without detailed explanation.

A suitable draw-off mechanism 79, includ-' ing an adjustable friction resser-roll 80, is included in my improved saturating machine, and in view of its being of known design further explanation herein is deemed unnecessary.

It will be, also, equally well understood that the improved machine is coordinated with some convenient source of power by suitable transmission applied to the drive shaft 81. In Fig. II, I have indicated the improved saturating machine as, in part, of sub-surface location relativeto the floor level 82, while 83. diagrammatically designates platforms projecting from the walls 9 for the operators, convenient the upper part of the tank or vat 7.

From the foregoing it is thought that the operation of my improved saturating machine will be readily understood, but it is deemed advisable to briefly set out certain phases thereof. Thus, in order that the material M-roll roofing felt for -instance Fig. I may be preliminarily threaded through the machine, the operators first raise the gate rolls 25 to a position above the carrier rolls 11, by releasing the pawls 76 and rotating the hand wheels 68, said gate rolls being individually elevated as will be obvious. After the felt has been threaded through the pinch rolls 1", over the carrier rolls 11 until the leading end is gripped by the presser-roll 80, the hand wheels 68 are reversely rotated to lower the gate rolls 25,

thereby forcing festooned loops of material M into the tank or vat 7 of heated asphalt,

whereupon the hand wheels 71 are manipulated to lock the shafts 43 against further rotation, as hereinbefore explained. Power next applied to the driving shaft 81, and the process of saturation pr0gressed-in the well known way-until the roll of roofing felt feeding-in over the guide roller 16 is ex hausted, or another one is attached to the trailing end thereof.

In conclusion, while it may be deemed preferable to employ the specific construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, it is to be understood such con struction and arrangement is not'essential to the broader aspects of my invention, but may be varied and modified as found desir able or best suited to individual requirements.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a saturating machine including a saturant tank and carrier rolls, endless carriers sustaining idler. rolls forfestooning the material in the tank during treatment, and means operative to effect directional progression of the endless carriers wholly within the confines of said machine.

2. In a saturating machine including a saturant tank and carrier rolls, endless chains journaling idler rolls for festooning in the tank the material under treatment, means functional to maintain tension upon said chains, and means for progressing the endless chains to vertically move the idler within the limits of said machine.

j said chains, means for absorbing expansion and contraction of the endless chains, and means for progressing the endless chains vertically to movethe idler rolls relative to the carrier rolls wholly within the limits of said machine.

4'. In a saturating machine including a saturant tank and carrier rolls, endless chains journaling gate rolls for festooning in the tank the material during saturation, means functional to maintain constant tension upon said chains, means for absorbing expansion and contraction of the endless chains, means for guiding the endless chains and gate rolls, and means operative to move the endless chains and thereby to raise and lower the gate rolls relative to the carrier rolls within the machine limits.

5.'In a saturating machine including a saturant bath and carrier rolls, the combination of a superstructural frame affording resilient bearing for endless means journaling idler rolls, and mechanism whereby said endless means may be progressed to move the idler rolls relative to the carrier rolls within the confines of said machine.

6. In a saturating machine including a saturant bath and carrier rolls, the combi-' nation of a superstructural frame supporting resiliently cushioned bearings, shafts journaled in said bearings coordinated with endless chains carrying idler rolls, and means whereby the aforesaid shafts may be rotated to progress the endless chains and,

move the idler rolls relative to the carrier rolls within the confines of said machine.

7. In a saturating machine including a saturant bath and carrier rolls, the combination of a superstructural frame, resiliently cushioned bearings mounted thereon, shafts journaled in said bearings adapted to progress parallel endless chains, and gate rolls rotatably supported between parallel.

pairs of the endless chains.

8. In a saturating machine including a saturant bath and carrier rolls, the combiwith sprockets stationarily journaled in the lower part of the bath, and gate rolls rotatably supported between parallel pairs of the endless chains.

9. In a saturating machine including a saturant bath and carrier rolls, the combination of a superstructural frame, resiliently cushioned bearings mounted thereon, shafts journaled in said bearings adapted to progress parallel endless chains cooperative with sprocketsstationarily journaled in the lower part of the bath, and gate rolls rotatably supported between parallel pairs of the endless chains, said gate rolls being constrained for vertical movement relative to the aforesaid carrier rolls within the overall hei ht of the machine. 4

10. In a saturating machine including a saturant bath and carrier rolls, the'combination-of a superstructural frame, cushioned bearings mounted thereon, operating shafts journaled in the bearings adapted to progress parallel endless chains cooperative with idler sprockets located in the lower part of the bath, gate rolls rotatably supported between pairs of the parallel endless chains, and means for retaining the aforesaid bearings and gate rollsrin fixed location irrespective of expansion and contraction in the endless chains.

11. In a saturating -machine including a saturant tank and sets of directional guide means defining an undulating course for the material through the tank, means to enable relative positional adjustment between the aforesaid sets of guide means, and means operative upon the guide means aforesaid to maintain the material under uniform yielding tension during progression through the machine.

12. In a saturatingmachine including a saturant tank and sets of directional guide means defining an undulating course for the material through the tank, means to enable relative positional adjustment between the aforesaid sets of guide means, and individual adjustments,associated with one set of the aforesaid guide means functional to maintain the material under uniform yielding tension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, thls 18th day of November, 1925.

FRANK A. BROWNE. 

